Tamper evident seal

Abstract

A tamper evident seal includes a wire hasp, an insert and a body for receiving the insert and the wire hasp. One leg of the wire hasp is received in a channel in the insert through an opening having a length slightly greater than the thickness of the wire hasp. The one leg of the wire hasp must be located in the channel in the insert prior to the insert being located in the body. A coupling structure for coupling the insert in the body includes extension tabs extending from the sides of the insert and located proximal a bottom of the insert and engagement members supported on angularly extending supports located proximal a top end of the insert and extending angularly outwardly upwardly from the sides of the insert and including teeth extending outwardly and for engaging reversely formed teeth (indentations) in the sides of the body for preventing removal of the insert and the wire hasp once they are fully inserted in the body and in the insert, respectively.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tamper evident seal comprising:
 a. a body having a chamber having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is open, the first chamber having a length extending in a first direction; 
 b. an insert located and sealed in the chamber, the insert having a first channel and a second channel, the insert further having a first end and a second end and wherein the first and second channels extend from the first end of the insert, and further wherein the first channel has an opening extending through the first end of the insert, the opening of the first channel having a length; and 
 c. a wire hasp having first and second legs, the first leg for being located and being locked in the first channel and the second leg for insertion and being locked in the second channel; 
 d. wherein the first leg of the wire hasp has a thickness that is slightly less than length of the opening of the first channel such that a liquid is significantly impeded from being able to pass into the first chamber; 
 e. wherein insert includes an angled wall between the first chamber and the second chamber and tapering into the first chamber in a direction away from the first end of the insert for receiving the first leg of the wire hasp as the wire hasp is moved relative to the insert from an unlocked position to a locked position; and 
 f. wherein the insert includes a second wall extending transverse relative to the angled wall defining a chamber receiving the first end of the wire hasp in the locked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second legs of the wire hasp each has a reversely bent end portion for engaging a portion of the insert to prevent removal of the wire hasp from the body once the legs have been fully inserted therein. 
     
     
       3. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein the insert is sonically welded and sealed to the body. 
     
     
       4. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  further comprising a passage having a first end located proximal the second end of the chamber and in communication with the chamber and a second end in communication with the atmosphere external of the tamper evident seal. 
     
     
       5. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second legs of the wire hasp each has a reversely bent end portion for engaging a portion of the insert to prevent removal of the wire hasp from the body once the legs have been fully inserted therein and wherein at least one of the reversely bent ends of one of the first and second legs is located in one of the first and second channels of the insert prior to the insert being located in the body. 
     
     
       6. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein the insert is disposed between the wire hasp and the body. 
     
     
       7. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein the second wall is parallel to the first end of the insert. 
     
     
       8. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein the insert includes a third wall extending from the angled wall to the second wall, the third wall being perpendicular to the second wall. 
     
     
       9. The tamper evident seal of  claim 1  wherein the second channel has a second opening extending through the first end of the insert, the first leg of the wire hasp extending through the opening into the first channel, the second leg of the wire hasp extending through the second opening into the second channel, the wire hasp being moveable relative to the insert from an unlocked position to a locked position, and the wire hasp being flexible such that an end of the second leg of the wire hasp may be removed from the second channel before the wire hasp is moved to the locked position. 
     
     
       10. A tamper evident seal comprising:
 a. a body having a chamber having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is open, the first chamber having a length extending in a first direction; 
 b. an insert located and sealed in the chamber, the insert having a first channel and a second channel, the insert further having a first end and a second end and wherein the first and second channels extend from the first end of the insert, and further wherein the first channel has an opening extending through the first end of the insert, the opening of the first channel having a length; and 
 c. a wire hasp having first and second legs, the first leg for being located and being locked in the first channel and the second leg for insertion and being locked in the second channel; 
 d. wherein the first leg of the wire hasp has a thickness that is slightly less than length of the opening of the first channel such that a liquid is significantly impeded from being able to pass into the first chamber; and 
 e. wherein the second channel has a second opening extending through the first end of the insert, the first leg of the wire hasp extending through the opening into the first channel, the second leg of the wire hasp extending through the second opening into the second channel, the wire hasp being moveable relative to the insert from an unlocked position to a locked position, and the wire hasp being flexible such that an end of the second leg of the wire hasp may be removed from the second channel before the wire hasp is moved to the locked position. 
 
     
     
       11. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  wherein each of the first and second legs of the wire hasp each has a reversely bent end portion for engaging a portion of the insert to prevent removal of the wire hasp from the body once the legs have been fully inserted therein. 
     
     
       12. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  wherein the insert is sonically welded and sealed to the body. 
     
     
       13. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  further comprising a passage having a first end located proximal the second end of the chamber and in communication with the chamber and a second end in communication with the atmosphere external of the tamper evident seal. 
     
     
       14. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  further comprising a coupling structure having a first portion coupled with the insert and a second portion formed in the body and wherein the first and second portions of the coupling structure interact to prevent removal of the insert once the insert and wire hasp have been located in the body. 
     
     
       15. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  wherein the insert is disposed between the wire hasp and the body. 
     
     
       16. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  wherein insert includes an angled wall between the first chamber and the second chamber and tapering into the first chamber in a direction away from the first end of the insert for receiving the first leg of the wire hasp as the wire hasp is moved relative to the insert from an unlocked position to a locked position; and wherein the insert includes a second wall extending transverse relative to the angled wall defining a chamber receiving the first end of the wire hasp in the locked position; and wherein the second wall is parallel to the first end of the insert. 
     
     
       17. The tamper evident seal of  claim 10  wherein insert includes an angled wall between the first chamber and the second chamber and tapering into the first chamber in a direction away from the first end of the insert for receiving the first leg of the wire hasp as the wire hasp is moved relative to the insert from an unlocked position to a locked position; and wherein the insert includes a second wall extending transverse relative to the angled wall defining a chamber receiving the first end of the wire hasp in the locked position; and wherein the insert includes a third wall extending from the angled wall to the second wall, the third wall being perpendicular to the second wall.